YORUBA CONCOCTIONS

The Yoruba tribe are mostly found in the South Western parts of Nigeria. Many of them can also be found scattered along the coast of West Africa especially in Republic of Benin, Togo, and even Ghana. They also have an active population in Brazil

The Yorubas are very civilized, well travelled and fun-loving people given to partying and enjoying the good things of life. Their colourful and epic parties are popularly known as “Owambe”.

They are known for “owambe” (lavish parties) thrown to celebrate everything from birthdays to naming ceremonies to weddings to chieftaincy titles to burial ceremonies to house warming parties. At the owambe parties, there is usually a display of the Yoruba culture which includes food.

The typical Yoruba food is usually eaten with the fingers because the foods are usually soft or pottage-like. Each of the foods taste and feel different. They are taken in small bits with the fingers and used to mop-up soup or the sauce (which are of different types). The food is eaten with the right hand, not the left. There are usually big jugs of water made available on the table to wash your hands with before and after meals.

If you do not want to eat with you fingers for whatever reason, a spoon is the eating utensil of choice. Eating with forks and knives are very uncommon.

Whenever you are eating in the presence of someone who is not, it is customary to invite that person to join you. The person without food could be a complete stranger but you will still ask them to come eat. You will say come and eat, or “wa jeun.” That person can actually start eating your food if they are really hungry, or they will say “may it go down well” or “a gba bi re.”

Many Yorùbá people wait until after they are completely finished eating the meal before drinking. Not everyone does this but most older people that are more familiar with the cultures and traditions do. They will shovel down their food, and then chug down with a drink in a couple of gulps.

Eating or drinking while walking is considered bad manners in the Yorubaland. You never see someone walking down the street munching on peanuts and boli (roasted plantain) or peeling bananas, which are the most popular snacks. Even drinking water while walking is not typical. People who were brought up well are expected to sit down when they eat.

Cooking is typically a woman’s job in Yorùbáland though many men can also cook great dishes especially in modern times. Traditionally, men planted the yams and did the back-breaking work while a woman’s job was to cook for the family. It is still the same practice in the villages today.

Yorubas are recognized globally for having a well-developed culture including in food and entertainment.

In this recipe masterpiece, we will be considering some of the unique culinary inventions of the Yoruba tribe.